GEOTEXTILES

Geotextiles specifically refers to permeable fabric or synthetic material, woven or non-woven, when used in association with soil have the ability to separate filter reinforce and drain.It improves soil strength at lower cost

Geosynthetics Classification Geosynthetics can be broadly classified into categories based on method of manufacture. The current denominations and brief descriptions of geosynthetics are presented below. Geotextiles are continuous sheets of woven, nonwoven, knitted or stitchbonded fibres or yarns. The sheets are flexible and permeable and generally have the appearance of a fabric. Geotextiles are used for separation, filtration, drainage, reinforcement and erosion control applications.

Geogrids are geosynthetic materials that have an open grid-like appearance. The principal application for geogrids is the reinforcement of soil.

Geonets are open grid-like materials formed by two sets of coarse, parallel, extruded polymeric strands intersecting at a constant acute angle. The network forms a sheet with in-plane porosity that is used to carry relatively large fluid or gas flows.

Geomembranes are continuous flexible sheets manufactured from one or more synthetic materials. They are relatively impermeable and are used as liners for fluid or gas containment and as vapour barriers.

Geocomposites are geosynthetics made from a combination of two or more geosynthetic types. Examples include: geotextile-geonet; geotextile-geogrid; geonet-geomembrane; or a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL). Prefabricated geocomposite drains or prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) are formed by a plastic drainage core surrounded by a geotextile filter.

Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) are geocomposites that are prefabricated with a bentonite clay layer typically incorporated between a top and bottom geotextile layer or bonded to a geomembrane or single layer of geotextile. Geotextileencased GCLs are often stitched or needle-punched through the bentonite core to increase internal shear resistance. When hydrated they are effective as a barrier for liquid or gas and are commonly used in landfill liner applications often in conjunction with a geomembrane.

Geopipes are perforated or solid-wall polymeric pipes used for drainage of liquids or gas (including leachate or gas collection in landfill applications). In some cases the perforated pipe is wrapped with a geotextile filter.

Geocells are relatively thick, three-dimensional networks constructed from strips of polymeric sheet. The strips are joined together to form interconnected cells that are infilled with soil and sometimes concrete. In some cases 0.5 m to 1 m wide strips of polyolefin geogrids have been linked together with vertical polymeric rods used to form deep geocell layers called geomattresses

Geofoam blocks or slabs are created by expansion of polystyrene foam to form a low-density network of closed, gas-filled cells. Geofoam is used for thermal insulation, as a lightweight fill or as a compressible vertical layer to reduce earth pressures against rigid walls.

 Type of Fibre Used in Geotextile The fibre and yarn used for geotextile offer long term stability against mechanical, chemical, & biodegradation; 1. Synthetic Fibres PP PE PET Polypropylene Polyethylene Polyester

2. Natural Fibre Jute Coir Sisal

Raw material breakdown

Poly proylene 83% Polyester 14% Polyethylene 2% Others 1%

 The principal functions performed by Geotextiles are: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Confinement /separation, Reinforcement, Filtration Drainage Protection.

Application areas include:(i) Civil Engineering (roads and pavements, slope stabilization and embankment protection, tunnels, rail-track bed stabilization, ground stabilization and drainage etc) (ii) Marine Engineering (Soil Erosion control and embankment protection, breakwaters) and Environmental Engineering (landfills and waste management).

FUNCTIONS
a) Confinement / Separation: Confinement provides a media between the aggregate and the subsoil which absorbs the load in the form of tension and prevents change in alignment of the aggregate. Geotextile economically helps the separation concept of keeping two dissimilar materials apart to maximise the physical attributes of each of those materials.

 If the separating media of geotextiles is absent, the infiltration of the subgrade decreases permeability of the aggregate to the point where it cannot adequately transport the water reaching it. Suitable geotextile fabric with good puncture/tear resistance when used as a separator media 1. eliminates the loss of costly aggregate material into subsoil, 2. prevents upward pumping of subsoil, 3. eliminates contamination and 4. maintains porosity of different levels. For separation purposes, both woven / nonwoven geotextiles may be used.

(b) Reinforcement and Stabilization: Geotextile are high tensile strength materials whereas soil has low tensile strength but has high compression strength. So Geotextile are ideal material to increase soil quality and thus to increase soil structural stability. Geotextile increase Load bearing capacity of soil.

(c) Filtration : Geotextile acts a filter by allowing free liquid flow through its plane and by retaining soil particles on the upstream side. Typical application areas of Geotextiles for Filtration are:- pipe underdrains, erosion control structures, etc..

At the same time, the geotextile serves the purpose of retaining the soil on its upstream side. The soil retention property is mainly based upon the pore size of the geotextile and the soil pertical size. The best way to express the relationship between particle size and pore size is AOS-Apparent Opening Size. A third factor is also involved-the long-term soil-to-geotextile flow compatibility that will not excessively clog during the lifetime of the system.

(d)

Drainage:

Involves transmission of liquid in the plane of fabric without soil loss. Drainage refers to planar flow while Filtration refers to flow across the geotextile.

For Drainage thick fabrics are used to provide significant transmissivity (needle punched geotextiles)

(e) Protection: In variety of structures, geotextiles are used with geomembranes. Geotextiles can provide long term protection against mechanical damage during and after installation.

Advantages: Conserve water by preventing seepage loss. Covers can prevent contamination, control evaporation and prevent chlorine loss.

Tunnel Construction

Applications of Geotextiles 1.Drainage of roads:-Geotextile wrapped trench drain proves better than the traditional open ditch or gravel filled trench drains. The geotextile acts as a filter preventing the fines into the drain . Incorporation of a geotextile has a number of advantages: (A)Geotextile is easier and quicker to install. (B) The use of specially graded sand and gravels (scarce and expensive) is avoided.

2. Geotextile for Capillary Breaks :-In cold regions frost heave is a major problem caused due to upward movement of ground water (capillary action). The effect of frost heave is particularly damaging to light structures such as road pavement. So a layer wrapped with a geotextile can be used as a capillary break .

3. Membrane Encapsulated Soils:- Fine-grained slits, clays or mixed soils used for pavement sub-base, degrade with time due to moisture changes. So encapsulating the soil layer with an impervious membrane can prevent the moisture migration. 4. Use in Asphalt Overlays:-Biaxially oriented PP geogrids have been extensively used to reinforce asphalt overlays.

BIAXIAL GEOGRID

WITHOUT GEOTEXTILE

WITH GEOTEXTILE

5 Landfills :Solid waste- both municipal and industrial-is best contained in a landfill. Landfill technology is useful in providing better environment to the urban populace and minimizes health hazards. A modern municipal waste landfill contains nearly all varieties of geosynthetics, each one of them serving a specific function.

6. Ground Restraint It is a method to increase the bearing capacity of soil and proves a stable foundation for many applications and advantages: It prevents loss of sub-base material into sub-grade It distributes load uniformly over a wide area

7. Road Construction Ground restraint mat is particularly effective as foundation material in various structure. Because of its net structure, mat settles on ground and road construction can be commenced immediately. it can be laid directly on the subgrade.

8. Factory Foundation Ground restraint reinforcement provides an effective and economical method of improving load distribution over large heavily loaded areas of made ground. It increases the bearing capacity of the soil and foundation design of industrial structure is greatly simplified.

BENEFITS OF GEOTEXTILE

WITHOUT GEOTEXTILE

WITH GEOTEXTILE

Before Reinforcement

After Reinforcement

9. Railway Construction To achieve track stability under high vertical loads consideration must be given to earthwork below. Geotextile laid at the sub-blast/sub-base interface Distributes load uniformly over a greater area And protects against tension cracks in sub-grade.

10. Slope Protection Erosion of earth s occurs on banks and cuttings due to wind and rain leading to instability of structure and consequent failure. Meshes prevents displacement of soil particles by wind and storm water.

11. Cliff Face / Bank Protection Erosion of exposed cliff faces creates potential hazards to road users from falling stones fragments dislodged by weathering. mesh fitted to the slope face by means of rock spikes provides protection against these hazards.

12. Under-ground Pipes Geotextiles are also used for construction of high-volume under-ground pipes, which carry fluids like water, petrol, gas, etc. Geotextile increases the pressure bearing capacity of pipe to avoid bursting of pipe in case of high and uneven pressures. 13 Other Applications Geotextiles are used to make better floor coverings, floor linings and floor mats as they are much more resistant to water and are less prone to crack and crevices formation. Geotextiles helps in reduction in weight of buildings to make them safer from earthquakes. Geotextiles are used to provide extra strength and load-bearing capacity to bridges.

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